Swivel aerators with combination spray



Dec. 19, 1967 A. M. MOEN SWIVEL AERATORS WITH COMBINATION SPRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 United States Patent 3,358 934 SWIVEL AERATORS WITI I COMBINATION SPRAY Alfred M. Moen, 25 Lakeview Drive, Grafton, Ohio 44044 Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,652 Claims. (Cl. 239-443) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a water discharge device which may function either as an aerator or as a spray. The device may be pivotally attached to a faucet spout. In each form of the invention there are manual means accessible from outside of the device for changing it from an aerating position to a spray position.

This invention relates to a combination spray aerator and in particular to an aerator which is pivotally attached to a faucet spout.

A primary purpose of the invention is a reliably operable simply constructed aerator which may be easily changed from a spray to an aerating condition.

Another purpose is a spray aerator of the type described having a minimum number of parts.

Another purpose is a spray aerator of the type described which may utilize a conventional aerator for providing an aerated discharge.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial axial section through one form of spray aerator,

FIGURE 2 is a section, on a reduced scale, along plane 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a partial axial section through a second form of spray aerator,

FIGURE 4 is a section along plane 44 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a section, similar to FIGURE 4, showing the spray aerator in a second position,

FIGURE 6 is an axial section through yet a further form of spray aerator showing the aerator in one position, and

FIGURE 7 is a side view in part section, similar to FIGURE 6, showing the spray aerator in a second position.

Turning to the aerator shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a ball type swivel member 10 may have a generally central water passage 12 and an upper mounting portion 14. The mounting portion 14 may have internal threads 16 and a seal ring 18 for use in attaching the upper end of the swivel to the spout of a faucet, such as a conventional aerator attaches to a faucet spout. A housing member 20 may have an upper in-turned flange 22 holding a wire ring or the like 24 at its inner end. The wire ring 24 may bear against the outer spherical surface of the swivel 10. A seal ring 26, for example an O-ring, may also bear against the outer spherical surface of the swivel 10 and may be held in position by a snap ring or the like 28, held in a groove 30 in the inner surface of the housing member 20. There are various satisfactory methods of attaching the housing to the swivel.

The housing 20 is somewhat conical in shape and has a downwardly extending outer flange 32 at its lower end which mounts a jet forming apertured member or plate 34 by means of a snap ring or the like 36. The plate 34 may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 38 which are used to form a spray discharge as will appear more fully hereinafter.

3,358,934 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 Located centrally of the plate 34 is an adapter 40 having a lower down-turned flange 42 with an outer threaded portion 46 mounting a conventional aerator 48. The aerator 48 is not described in detail and any commercial aerator may be satisfactory. What is important is to provide a suitable screen in the aerator for breaking up the water flowing through it into a fine aerated discharge. The upper end of the adapter 40 may support a closure plate 50 having openings 52 and 54, as shown particularly in FIG. 2. The outer edge of the closure plate 59 has a down-turned flange 56 which rests upon the jet forming plate 34. A seal ring 58 may be positioned on top of the flange 56. A diverter member 60 may pivot about an axis 62, with such pivotal movement being caused by rotation of a handle 64. The diverter member, as illustrated particularly in FIGURE 2, has an inner enlarged portion, larger than the equally sized openings 52 and 54. The diverter member 60 may be positioned to close either opening 52 or 54, with the position of the diverter member being controlled by handle 64 which extends outside of the housing 20.

The spray aerator shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be moved about swivel member 10 and may have either an aerated discharge or a spray discharge. In the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, water passing down through the central passage 12 of the swivel 10 and into the chamber defined by the housing 20 will then pass through opening 52 into the annular space between plate 34 and closure plate 50 Water will then flow out of the jet forming apertures 38 in the form of a spray.

To change operation from a spray to an aerated discharge, handle 64 is turned to move diverter member 6%) so that it closes opening 52 and opens opening 54. In this position of the device water from the chamber within the housing 20 will flow directly down through the aerator 48. No water will be permitted to pass into the space between jet forming member 34 and plate 56, thus cutting off any water flow to the apertures 38.

Turning now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, a swivel member 66 having an internal passage 68 may be connected in any suitable manner to the discharge end of a conventional water faucet spout .The housing 70, which is as shown herein, may be plastic or some other suitable flexible material, is resiliently held on the swivel 10 and a suitable metal ring or the like 72 may be used to insure that the housing stays fast on the swivel. It is advantageous to use a flexible plastic housing to cut down heat transfer to the outer surface of the housing which is the surface normally handled in manipulating the device. It is advantageous to provide a groove 73 in the internal surface of the housing 70 which is in contact with the swivel 66, such a groove being necessary for placing the flexible plastic housing on the swivel.

The lower end of the housing 7 0 may mount a rotatable plate 74 by means of a snap ring or the like 75. As particularly shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, plate 74 has a plurality of generally equally spaced openings 76 about its outer periphery. Plate 74 also has a plurality of equally spaced holes 78 generally closer to the axis of the rotatable plate 74 than the openings 76. Plate 74 may have a down-turned flange 80 which threadedly mounts a conventional aerator 81, much in the manner shown in FIGURES l and 2. Positioned upstream of and directly adjacent the rotatable plate 74 is a jet forming member 82 in the form of a plate held in position on top of the rotatable plate 74 by means of a suitable seal ring or the like 84. The jet forming member 82 has generally equally spaced groups of small apertures 86, with the apertures or openings 86 being so arranged as to form a spray when water is discharged through them. There may be any number of openings or apertures in each of the groups, and as shown herein, there are four such openings. Jet forming member 82 also has openings or holes 88, spaced inwardly from apertures 86, which can be positioned in at least partial alignment with the openings 78 in the rotatable plate 74.

In operating the device shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, and assuming it is in the position of FIGURE 4, water passing down through passage 68 will flow into the chamber formed by housing 70. As the jet forming apertures 86 are in alignment with openings 76 in rotatable plate 74, water will flow through the apertures 86 and then out openings 76. In this case, the water will be in the form of a spray as apertures 86 are designed to break up and form the water into a spray type of discharge. If it is desired to have an aerated discharge, the outwardly extending handles 90 on rotatable plate 74 may be utilized to rotate the plate, for example about 22%. degrees, to the position of FIGURE 5. In this position of the device, holes 76 are no longer in alignment with jet forming apertures 86, but openings 88 and 78 are at least in partial alignment. Thus, no water will pass through the apertures 86 to form a spray, but all of the water will be directly axially downwardly through the aerator 81, thus forming an aerated discharge.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the jet forming member 82 is a separate element, formed of a material similar to that of the housing 70. In one form of the invention, these two members could be formed together, for example by a suitable molding process.

Turning now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, again a swivel 92 is attached in a suitable manner to the discharge end of a water faucet spout. A housing 94 may have an upper in-turned flange 96 held in place on the swivel by means of a snap-ring or the like 98. An O-ring 100 may seal the upper end of the housing 94 to prevent leakage of water at this point. The swivel 92 may have a generally central discharge passage 102 opening into a chamber 104 defined by an apertured jet forming member 106. The jet forming member 106 may have an upper flange 108 which is threaded onto a portion of the housing 94.A seal ring 109 may close the upper end of chamber 104.

The member 106 may have jet forming apertures 110 which are positioned directly above and in alignment with a ball 112 which has an outer curved surface positioned to receive and deflect water passing through the apertures 110. At the lower end of the jet forming member 106 is a disc 114 which is used to further break up the water when the device is in an aerating position.

A shell or cylinder 116 may be slidably mounted on the housing 94 by means of keys 117 on housing 94 and keyways 119 on the inside of cylinder 116. Removal from the housing is prevented by means of a snap ring 118 at the lower end and by means on an annular shoulder or the like 120 formed on the upper portion of the cylinder 116. A seal ring 121 seals the upper edge of cylinder 116.

In operating the device shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and assuming the device is in the position of FIGURE 6, water passes down through passage 102 into chamber 104. Water will then pass through the jet forming apertures 110 and strike the curved surface of the ball 112. The water will be sprayed in many different directions by the curved surface of the ball 112 and by the lower disc 114. As the water impacts and strikes against the various surfaces within the device, it will be broken up into a fine spray and it will pick up air through the opening 122 in the wall of housing 94, so that final discharged water will be in the form of an aerated stream.

To place the device in a spray position, the cylinder 116 is moved up to the position of FIGURE 7. Note that in this position disc 114 is outside of cylinder 116 whereas in the position of FIGURE 6 disc 114 is inside of or enclosed by the cylinder. In the position of FIGURE 7, water passes down through the jet forming apertures 110, strikes the curved surface of the ball 112 and then is directed out in the form of a spray. Water will not strike disc 114 in the position of FIG- URE 7. It should also be noted that the keyways 119 will carry the seal ring 121 upward as the cylinder 116 is moved upward to the position of FIGURE 7, thus sealing the cylinder 116 and the housing 94 from outside air. In the alternative, cylinder 116 may be threadably mounted on the housing. Many mounting arrangements may be practical.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

All three forms of the invention provide a swivel action when the device is attached to a conventional water spout, as well as either an aerated or a spray discharge. Of particular advantage in the invention is the fact that the swivel screws onto the outside of the threaded end of the faucet, much as a conventional. aerator. Preferably, the swivel attachment is made with the same thread, both in pitch and diameter, as a conventional aerator so that the combination disclosed herein may be attached to any conventional faucet.

In all three forms of the invention the spray aerator is formed with a minimum number of parts, and in the form shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, note that the main housing part may be formed of a suitable plastic. In the other forms of the invention, similar parts may be formed of a plastic, preferably of a type of plastic which has minimum heat conducting properties.

The manner in which the housing is attached to the swivel may vary considerably. In the form shown in FIG- URE 3, the housing is formed of a flexible material and the housing may be snapped onto the outer surface of the swivel. In the forms shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, a snap ring or the like may be used to hold the housing onto the swivel. The invention should not be limited to any particular housing or method of attachment to the swivel.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a spray aerator for attachment to a faucet discharge, a swivel member and means for attaching it to a faucet discharge, a housing member mounted and movable on said swivel, said housing member having a generally central water chamber with said swivel having a centrally located water passage opening in said chamber, a jet forming member closing the lower end of said chamber, said jet forming member having a plurality of jet forming apertures, an aerator attached to said housing downstream of said jet forming member, and means for discharging water either from said aerator or said jet forming apertures, including a closure plate within said chamber and spaced upstream from said jet forming member so as to form an annular space therebetween, a pair of openings in said closure plate, with one of said closure plate openings communicating only with said aerator and the other opening communicating only with the apertures in said jet forming member, and a closure member, movable from outside of said housing for closing either one of said closure plate openings.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said aerator is generally centrally located, with said jet forming apertures being positioned circumferentially about said aerator.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said closure member is rotatable about an axis spaced from the center of said closure plate, and a handle attached to said closure member and extending outwardly from said housing.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including an adapter having a central water passage, said adapter being mounted on said jet forming member, with said adapter passage being in alignment with one of said closure plate openings, said aerator being connected 2,797,906 7/1957 Aghnides 239-4285 X to the downstream end of said adapter. 2,858,120 10/ 1958 Goodrie 239-4285 5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in 2,935,265 5/1960 Richter 239-4285 X that said closure plate has a down-turned flange at its 2,950,063 8/1960 Ripley 239-4285 X outer periphery, and a seal ring between said down-turned 5 2,971,701 2/ 96 a s t a1- 239428-5 X flange and said housing member. 3,022,014 2/ 1962 Young 239-439 X 3,145,932 8/1964 Mango 239-4285 X References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 2,327,068 8/1943 Holden 239-147 1 7 7 9 7 Budan 239 447 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

2,529,223 11/1950 Moen 238-4285 X VAN C. WILKS. Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SPRAY AERATOR FOR ATTACHMENT TO A FAUCET DISCHARGE, A SWIVEL MEMBER AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING IT TO A FAUCET DISCHARGE, A HOUSING MEMBER MOUNTED AND MOVABLE ON SAID SWIVEL, SAID HOUSING MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY CENTRAL WATER CHAMBER WITH SAID SWIVEL HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED WATER PASSAGE OPENING IN SAID CHAMBER, A JET FORMING MEMBER CLOSING THE LOWER END OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID JET FORMING MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF JET FORMING APERTURES, AN AERATOR ATTACHED TO SAID HOUSING DOWNSTREAM OF SAID JET FORMING MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING WATER EITHER FROM SAID AERATOR OR SAID JET 